With further housing planned at the nearby Norwood and Paston Reserve development sites, this congestion is projected to increase unless improvements are made.

The number of lanes approaching and on the roundabout will be increased from two to three in both directions and traffic lights put in place.

The works will also include the installation of LED street lighting and carriageway resurfacing with reduced noise surface material.

Preparations, including vegetation clearance, to enable construction works to start, have already taken place.

The city council has been awarded £5 million funding from the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership to make the capacity improvements at this important junction that provides interchange links to the A1, A47, A605, A15 and A16.

Councillor Peter Hiller, the council’s cabinet member for growth, planning, housing and economic development, said: “Peterborough is going to experience significant growth over the next 10 years, with numerous developments planned - including Paston Reserve, which will consist of approximately 1,500 homes.

“This scheme will result in improved journey times for road users, will directly assist in reducing congestion and also provide additional capacity for the extra growth identified.

“We appreciate that the works will be an inconvenience to people, but we will be doing all we can to reduce the impact. Traffic restrictions will be kept to a minimum to limit disruption and the majority of work will be completed during daytime hours to lessen the impact on nearby residents.”

Lane closures will be in place for the duration of the works and occasional weekend and night time closures will be required in order for some construction activities to be completed.

Night works will be advertised on site, two weeks prior to the works being carried out, and noise will be kept to a minimum.